This "Little old band from Texas" was formed in 1969 by guitarist Billy Gibbons (William Frederick Gibbons), who would become the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs.
The band solidified the following year when Dusty Hill became bass player and Frank Beard took over as drummer. Typical Z.Z irony, Frank is the one who does NOT sport a beard.
The band got a recording contract and released "Z.Z. Top's First Album." The record did not do well, but subsequent albums did, and their bluesy Texas rock caught on. While they sold a lot of albums in the two phases of the bands existence, they are mostly known as a huge concert draw that filled stadiums and arenas worldwide.
Lyrically, they are always looking for a wry statement or double meaning.
Their primarily Texas-boogie style morphed with the issuance of "Duegello". The term duegello means no quarter as in taking no prisoners.
As their sixth album, it was still a blues album, but the shape of rock to come was now beginning to show itself. While "Cheap Sunglasses" was the hit, "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" is our pick as one of their best and most fun.
Well I was rollin' down the road in some cold blue steel,
I had a blues man in back, and a beautician at the wheel.
We going downtown in the middle of the night
We laughing and I'm jokin' and we feelin' alright.
Oh I'm bad, I'm nationwide.
Yes I'm bad, I'm nationwide.
Nobody is having a bad time here.
Wiki: "Z.Z. Top would go on to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. They achieved 11 gold records and 7 platinum albums Eliminator, remains the group's most commercially successful record, selling over 10 million units. " The band is still touring after 40 years...
So get in the car and let's be bad with our own badness...
According to a Billboard interview, Robin Wilson passed by a sign on his way to El Paso 1n 1989 that read "Next Exit Allison Road." His friend with whom he was riding had a sister named Allison, and so they stopped to take a picture. Five months later, Wilson had the picture and was bored:
"I walked to the other room, sat down in front of the television and turned on CNN. And the moment the TV turned on I heard that little melody in my head; 'On Allison Road.' So I turned off the TV, climbed over the couch and went back in my bedroom and the song was pretty much done 20 minutes later."
The exit sign for Allison Road is located on I-10 in Roosevelt, Texas.
"Allison Road" is about a guy who breaks up with a girl and then realizes He's made the wrong choice but can't go back. which explains why he keeps saying 'I couldn't see I was lost at the time.' (quote from a fan entry about the lyrics).
I’ve lost my mind on what I’d find
And all of the pressure that I left behind
On Allison road
Fools in the rain if the sun gets through
Fire’s in the heaven of the eyes I knew
On Allison Road
Dark clouds file in when the moon is near
Birds fly by a.m. in her bedroom stare
There was no tellin’ what I might find
I couldn’t see I was lost at the time...
Yeah I didn’t know I was lost at the time
On Allison Road
Wilson replaced the band's co-founder Richard Taylor as guitarist of the Gin Blossoms in 1988, but switched places early on with vocalist Jesse Valenzuela. He remained a member of the band until their breakup in 1997, during which time the band came out with two albums.
Their hit debut album New Miserable Experience went double platinum and featured singles "Hey Jealousy", "Found Out About You", "Mrs. Rita", "Until I Fall Away", and Wilson's "Allison Road".
"Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You" are both excellent songs and are perhaps the best known by the Gin Blossoms. It would be negligent, in writing about the Gin Blossoms, to not mention the tragic genius of Doug Hopkins, the bands other co-founder.
Hopkins had suffered from chronic depression and had been battling alcoholism for years. At the time, the band was hugely popular in the Tempe, Ariz. area. As a result, they were signed to A&M Records.
Hopkins thought this was a sell out, and went on drinking binges. According to Wikipedia: "It was reported that Hopkins was unable to stand during his recording sessions. Faced with the prospect of firing Hopkins or being dropped by A&M, the band terminated Hopkins. He was replaced by Scott Johnson. As a result, the band withheld $15,000 owed to Hopkins until he agreed to sign over half of his publishing royalties. Hopkins also had to relinquish his mechanical royalties to Johnson, his replacement. Hopkins reluctantly agreed to these demands because of his dire financial situation."
He would receive a gold record for "Hey Jealousy". But this made him feel even more despondent. He committed suicide 12/5/1993.
Another note via Wiki: "At his memorial service, band mate Robin Wilson recalls, a woman approached his former band members with a message from Hopkins upon his death: he was the one who had poured sugar in the gas tank of their tour van in 1992."
The first video is straightforward off the album. The second is an excellent live acoustic version worth your attention...
The band is currently touring and will be at the Hard Rock in Orlando on Oct. 31st.
Robin Wilson
